Saturday, April 12th, 2025: James says he's too busy to go to Chandler until after 2 pm, grocery shopping, leave @ 3 for Chandler, Chandler Stake Easter Celebration, Sheila Young

 

Colonia Juarez, Chihuahua

55th operating temple

Dedicated: 6 Mar 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 6:1-7:7

Come Follow Me

People, Places, Events

April General Conference

'True to the Faith'

Elder Hans T. Boom

"Please learn and receive strength from the faith and testimonies of those who came before you."

I kept asking James this morning if we could go to Chandler to support Stacy & Paul at their stake Easter activity. He kept saying that he was too busy. We have stake conference this evening and we would miss it if we went to the valley.

I decided just to go about my day. I thought about going down by myself but decided against it. 

I left to go grocery shopping around 11:15. I went to Walmart and got my car washed before driving home around 2:15. I got a phone call on the way home, from James. He asked me if I still wanted to go to Chandler. I told him yes but it was a little late. He asked where I was and I told him I was just approaching the Y. He told me to hurry home. He helped me put the groceries away and then he told me to go get ready. I told him I was already ready and he was the one that needed to change, which he did.  We left around 3 pm. The event starts at 5:30 so we will be a little late. 

We stopped at Burger House for green mixed burros and onion rings and still made it to K.K. Skousen park by 6:00, record time. 

We parked and as we were walking across the field, one of the first people we saw was Sheri. Even though she isn't in this stake she is helping out. She was in charge of this huge tire shaped target with velcro on it. The participants kick a soccer ball which sticks to the target. It looked like a lot of fun. Sheri and I sat and watched mostly. Once in awhile she would go over and talk to the kids. 

The weather was perfect. This morning while setting up it was extremely hot. Stacy & Paul, and Kim all prayed that clouds would come and that it would be overcast. Their prayers were answered. It was so enjoyable just to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather and be a part of this event.

Adam came by to say hello. He and James went in the Cooper meetinghouse to see the presentation about the Savior. Stacy said she thought he came because he knew we would be here. How sweet. I would have gone to the presentation too but Sheri wanted me to stay with her. 

Kim and Brian were in charge of one of the bouncy houses so I didn't get to see very much of them. Kim did bring me one of her Cadbury egg cookies to try and it was delicious. Stacy also brought me a pulled pork sandwich. I wasn't too hungry because I had eaten half of my green mixed burro. 

I got to visit with a dear friend, Sheila Young, before leaving. Sheila grew up in Show Low. I didn't know her then but I did know her mother and her older sister Wanda. She was in our ward while James was bishop before moving over to the other side of Arizona Avenue. She told me about her husband Dwayne having 8 strokes and a brain bleed. The doctor gave him no chances of surviving, yet he is still alive. I told her about out miracle with James. It was so nice to see her and reconnect.

We left a little after 8. We went and filled up with gas and then started home, the Globe way. It was 11:00 when we got home. We were gone a total of 8 hours. We fell into bed and almost immediately went to sleep.

5,300 filled Easter eggs

I really do wish he would smile. 

I don't want him to look mad or mean,

because he is far from that. 

Chandler Prom

Sweet Scarlett

Evan & Mia ready for prom

From Louisiana, Owen and his new 

bride, Charlotte.

Thank you!

Blooming for the 3rd time.

This is Carmen's.

Chandler Stake Easter Event

Friday, April 11th, 2025: Left for the valley @ 6:30, Tony's Special - give one to Armando, Burn house on Palm & Saragosa, owner a no-show, Target shopping, Cafe Rio, Chase Bank, Costco, Home again, nap w/ Tom, James strips forms @ Beach's, Sent Sammy to look for Tom

Anchorage, Alaska

54th operating temple

Dedicated: 9 Jan 1999

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 5:1-15

Come Follow Me

D&C 33:12-18

If I build my life on the Savior's gospel, I will not fall.

April General Conference

'Personal Preparation to Meet the Savior'

Elder Dale G. Relund

"Follow the Savior's teachings. His instructions are neither mysterious nor complex. When we follow them, we do not need to fear or be anxious."

We left at 6:30 for the valley. Tom was outside this time. We went the Salt River way because there is no blasting on Friday. We stopped at Burger House and got two Tony's Special breakfast burritos. Neither one of us liked it that well. It was too hot. I saved mine and James gave it to Armando. 

I dropped James off at Palm & Saragosa at the "burn" house. Armando was already there. I headed for the Target on south Arizona Avenue. 

I found a pair of casual slip on shoes to wear with my pants, a birthday card for Alex, a notebook and pens for Cheryl Sedig's Easter basket, some cough drops for James, gum and Ice Breakers for Cheryl's basket. I spent over $60. 

When I got back to James I asked how his meeting went. He said it didn't got because the owner, a woman, was a no-show. So, he came 200 miles at her request and she doesn't show. She may have been intimidated by all of the men. She knows and trusts Salvador so he went to visit her and got her to sign the demolition contract. 

I told James I wanted to go to the Gilbert Costco because I may want to go to Deseret Book and I wanted to go to Cafe Rio for lunch. 

After Cafe Rio we found a Chase bank. James got a $375 check from Hatch Dental for a small job Armando did. He said I could have it to use to "pad" my budget. I wanted to use it at Costco so we cashed the check. 

At Costco we spent almost $200. I bought toilet paper and paper towels, toilet bowl cleaner tablets, pistachios, and Pom juice for James. We also got some Fairlife protein shakes, Swiffer duster refills, laundry detergent, and gallon freezer bags. Money certainly disappears fast at Costco.

After Costco we were ready to go home. Even though it was closer to go the Globe way home James went the extra miles to go the Payson way because he knew I wanted to. 

We stopped at our favorite gas station for gas and a large Almond Joy to share. 

We were home by 4 p.m., time for a nap. Tom and I slept on the recliner and James on the bed. I forgot to mention that we listened to "Follow Him" and then our book "Discovering Dahlia" while in the car. 

James goes over to the Beach's to strip forms and didn't get home until after dark. I guess his back went out and that's why it took him so long. 

When it was time for bed Tom was no where to be seen. I asked Sammy if he knew where Tom was. He craned his head to look inside the house. I told him Tom wasn't in here. I said to him, "Go find Tom." He took off running and about 10 minutes later he came back and Tom was with him. I was so surprised that he understood what I said.

Fixing the sewer line

Our 'go-getter' Relief Society president

 

Thursday, April 10th, 2025: James working on bids, Inklings, lunch, sewer line fixed!, Propane delivered!, beautiful springtime weather

 

Monticello, Utah

53rd operating temple

Dedicated: 26 July 1998

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 4:16-30

Come Follow Me

D&C 32-33; 35 

The Lord prepares me for the work He wants me to do.

April General Conference

'Faith: A Bond of Trust and Loyalty'

Elder Sandino Roman

"Faith sprouts as we trust in Jesus Christ and blooms as we are faithful and loyal to Him."

James did office work this morning and some this afternoon. He had a new contract sent for the burn house in Chandler. He is going to meet the owner tomorrow at her request.

President Freeman announced the Inklings study for the next six months. It is based on President Nelson's talk where he encourages us to have "Intentional Confidence" in the Lord and to develop charity and virtue in our lives.

I fixed James a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup for lunch. He needed a break from working on the sewer line. Lunch and a short nap with Tom.

James worked on the sewer line all afternoon.  It is fixed and we can do laundry! Hallelujah! I am so grateful he did this instead of going to the valley. I will go with him to the valley tomorrow. 

A new propane company, Stepp, was delivering to the Crane's. James talked to the driver and he said he would fill our tank too. This is a day earlier than Owen's and it's about $200 cheaper. We now have propane too. We are back in business as a full service home.

We tried to go to bed early but I'm afraid it wasn't until 10:00 for me, with Tom sleeping at the end of our bed. We are leaving tomorrow at 6:30 as James's meeting about the burn house is at 10.

James's drawing of the sewer line problem

April 9, 2016

Wednesday, April 9th, 2025: Gorgeous weather in the 70's, another day of waiting, James's concrete pour, James broke a pipe, Home Depot, Culver's, Tractor Supply, Celeste gets lost for several hours, valley for James on Friday instead of tomorrow

Preston, England

52nd operating temple

Dedicated: 7 June 1998

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 4:4-15

Come Follow Me

D&C 31:1-2, 5-6, 9, 13

The Lord can help me with my family relationships.

April General Conference

'Return Unto Me. . . That I May Heal You'

S. Mark Palmer

"There is rejoicing in heaven over those who return. It is not too late for you to come back."

The weather this week has been absolutely beautiful. There has been no wind and the temperatures are in the middle to upper 70's. Just about perfect for James's concrete pour at 12:30 this afternoon.

Another day of waiting for me. Waiting for the sewer line to be fixed so I can do laundry. . . waiting for propane to be delivered so I can use my oven and stove again. While I am waiting I am trying to accomplish a few things, although I am still fighting a cold. 

James has to go to the valley and tomorrow was going to be the day. He changed it until Friday so he could work on the sewer line tomorrow. I am very grateful. He is meeting with the owner of the burned out duplex. She wants to meet him.

Before we left for town James got a call from our neighbor Chuck Crane. He asked if we had seen Celeste, his 17 year old granddaughter who has downs syndrome. She has been missing for two and a half hours. This was right at dusk and it was starting to get dark. We saw Easton walking on the road with a flashlight and Colter Hunsaker riding his mini-bike out looking for her. 

On the way back from town I called Kathy, Chuck's wife to see if they had found Celeste. She said that Jeff found her up on the hill on the Green's peak road. As a family they had gone for a hike up that way on Monday. I guess Celeste wanted to go on her own.

James broke a pipe digging with the Cat and has to replace it. We went in to town where he got a new pipe and Home Depot. We got dinner at Culvers. I got a Butter burger and chicken strips. I saved the chicken strips for tomorrow. James got his regular cod fillet sandwich. We also stopped at Tractor Supply for horse feed.

 

Tuesday, April 8th, 2025: James up early then off to Beach's, Armando starts demo on Chinese warehouse, sewer problems continue, "Penny the Talking Cat", "Rosemary & Thyme", Home Depot, Aliberto's, Firehouse

 

Vernal, Utah

51st operating temple

Dedicated: 2 Nov 1997

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 3:19-4:3

Come Follow Me

D&C 30-36

I am called to be a witness of Jesus Christ.

April General Conference

'Divine Authority, Sublime Young Men'

Steven J. Lund

"I am forever grateful that holders of the Aaronic Priesthood with its powers, ordinances, and duties, do bless all of us."

James was up early again to do some office work before leaving for the Beach's. Meanwhile, down in the valley, Armando started, and finished the demo work on the Chinese warehouse in Tempe. 

James came home this afternoon and worked on the sewer line. He found the problem out front, a broken joint in the clean out. He thinks the clog is just beyond that. In the meantime, I hope we don't run out of clean garments. 

Tom slept in the house most of the day. While he was asleep I watched clips of 'Penny the Talking Cat.' I'm a little obsessed. I also watched a couple of episodes of "Rosemary & Thyme" my new British murder mystery.

I did accomplish some things: I paid our tithing and Verizon bill, worked on my blog and ordered the Liahona magazine. I studied from my D&C Study Guide for over an hour and read from The Continuous Atonement.

This evening James and I went into town to get parts for the plumbing and to get something to eat. I got a couple of shredded beef tacos from Aliberto's and James got a sub from Firehouse.

I'm still feeling under the weather. When will I shake this darn cold?

First Presidency

This is me

Monday, April 7th, 2025: James up early, I sleep in, Issues at the Lambson residence: no propane, sewer clog, "Rosemary & Thyme", cleaned wood floor & baseboards

 

St. Louis, Missouri

50th operating temple

Dedicated: 1 June 1997

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

Mosiah 3:1-18

Come Follow Me

April 7-13: "Lift Up Your Voices ... to Declare My Gospel"

D&C 30-36 Introduction

April General Conference

'Cherishing Life'

Elder Neil L. Andersen

"Nurturing and protecting life that is yet unborn is not a political position. It is a moral law confirmed by the Lord through His prophets."

James got up early to work on a contract for Salvador's fire damage job and I slept in, a role reversal. 

We've got some issues here at the Lambson residence in Vernon, Arizona. Yesterday I smelled prepare propane. James checked the tank, we are down to 3%, lower than it's ever been. We still have a clog in the sewer line. We can't use the washer or the hall bathroom or garbage disposal, dishwasher, stove or oven. The stove or oven because of the low propane.

James got up early and wrote up a contract for Salvador's fire damaged duplex on Saragosa St. in Chandler. It's not Salvador's house, but it's his job. James is bidding it as the general contractor. 

He knows how much the insurance company paid the owner so he has a ball park figure as to how to bid. I typed the contract for him. 

He sent it off and now the owner wants to meet him. 

After getting the contract sent off James went to Beach's to get ready for his concrete pour which is on Wednesday. He came back a couple of hours later with an 8-pk of DPZ for me. He gave it to me and then headed out the door again. I think I succumbed to drinking soda again because it feels so good on my sore throat. I know that's an excuse, not a reason.

I watched a few episodes of "Rosemary & Thyme" my new British crime series about a couple of gardeners, Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme. They are hired to fix up people's gardens and always wind up solving a murder. 

I cleaned the wood floor in the living/family room area with a mop and soapy water. I can honestly say it looks much better. I should have used soapy water a long time ago. I also cleaned the baseboards in the hallway with Liquid Gold and they look so good.

The most frustrating thing about working on my blog is downloading pictures. My photo app doesn't always work as it should and it drives me crazy. But, on the other hand, one of the most rewarding things about keeping a blog is having it be my family photo album too.

Made a trip to town this evening. I got a Sonic cheeseburger and James got a turkey pastrami sandwich at Arby's and a cranberry limeade at Sonic. 

Notes & Quotes

A few of the things Joshua was told in his patriarchal blessing:

He is a child of Manasseh. He will serve people in a different country that speak a different language. He will never want for things temporally and because of his charitable nature he will be able to help others not so fortunate as himself. 

Thy sins are forgiven thee.

Scotlyn, Cooper, Peyton

A Chandler institution